Bede put his impressive intellectual gifts in service of the Church, writing histories, biographies, martyrologies, works of science, numerous commentaries on the bible and sacred chant, from within the confines of his monastery, St. Augustine of Canterbury served the Lord in a different way. He didn't stay in his home monastery. Rather, he was a member of a delegation of missionaries to early Anglo-Saxon England.
Early missionary activity amongst the Anglo-Saxons of Brittainy were largely unsuccessful. The Gospel failed to take root in the British Isles initially, except among the small pockets of Celtic peoples. So around the year 595, Pope St. Gregory the Great sent a delegation of forty monks to Brittania, including the Italian Benedictine monk, Augustine.
Though Augustine and his band of monks heard stories about the ferocious Anglo-Saxons and the treacherous waters of the English Channel, they proceeded on their mission with the assurance of the Pope. They constructed a church and monastery at Canterbury, on the site where the famous Canterbury Cathedral now stands presently. Augustine was consecrated its first Bishop. And by 597, thousands of people were coming to actively seek baptism.
Most of us do not receive letters from the Pope telling us to go evangelize particular nations and regions, but all of us have received the commission of our Lord to go and make disciples of all nations, all of the baptized have the vocation of laboring for the spread of the Gospel.
We also live in a culture much like that which Augustine found upon his arrival to Britain, small pockets of Christian faith, mingled with pagan elements, with considerable opposition from the culture.
In a letter to Augustine, Pope Gregory the Great wrote: "He who would climb to a lofty height must go by steps, not leaps." The task of evangelization might seem like a lofty mountain, but we can make great inroads through small steps: conversations with non-Catholics, small acts of charity towards strangers, imitating Christ in all of our attitudes and choices.
Through the prayerful intercession and holy example of St. Augustine of Canterbury may we be faithful to the small steps the Lord calls us to take in the spread of his kingdom for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the Saints may inspire us and continue to help us put Christ at the center of our life.
That the Saints may inspire us to works of charity and caring for the needy.
That the Saints may inspire us to confess our sins, strengthen in virtue, and be devoted to the spread of the Gospel.
That the Saints may inspire us to bear our sufferings in union with Christ, and may help the suffering to know the comforting presence of God, especially the sick, the elderly, those in nursing homes, hospitals, hospice care, addicts and those imprisoned, those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.
In the wake of the horrific school shooting in Texas this week, we pray for the victims of this shooting and their families, for all the public safety responders and for the southwest Texas communities stunned by this unthinkable incident.
For our beloved dead…
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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